We are tremendously proud of our two eldest orchestras for giving sensational Spring Concerts, and setting a very high standard for the remaining NCO performances of 2016.
On Saturday 9 April, Main Orchestra made their welcome return to Bristol’s Colston Hall. The young musicians had been rehearsing for a week at Sherborne School for Girls, with Guest Conductor Natalia Luis-Bassa. They spent 8 days exploring a broad concert repertoire which included Williams’s iconic Star Wars Suite and Elgar’s Italian-inspired In the South.
In the afternoon members of the local community were invited to watch the 106 young musicians in an Open Rehearsal. We were thrilled to learn that some attendees had visited an Open Rehearsal last year, and then went on to successfully audition for a place in NCO 2016!
Colston Hall was set ablaze that evening as the youngsters performed an electrifying programme which featured Latin flavourings and orchestral choreography in Ginastera’s Dances from Estancia and Prokofiev’s romantic Suite No.1 from Romeo and Juliet.
The next day, NCO’s Under 13 Orchestra travelled from Port Regis School in Dorset to the Anvil in Basingstoke. NCO has made a regular appearance in the Anvil’s programme of events, and we were excited to perform there once again to friends, family, supporters and classical music lovers.
NCO’s Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Roger Clarkson, guided the Under 13 Orchestra through a complicated and colourful tour of Europe featuring Rossini’s Overture to The Barber of Seville, Coates's London Suite, Chabrier’s España, and Smetana’s Vltavainspired by the Czech Republic’s river of the same name.
The Under 13 Orchestra gave a passionate performance, and audience members were delighted with their skilled and mature playing, giving glowing reviews following the concert. We cannot wait to see what both orchestras will bring in the summer - bravo tutti!
